Recently we came across a few solutions that provide flexible labeling solutions, and at the same time; are integrated into the business process. The integrated labeling solutions provide the ability to perform normal manufacturing or packing processes, without the hassle of changing the process or reducing its efficiency for the purpose of labeling.
Many packers and food manufacturers in North America are currently grappling with the Produce Traceability Initiative , this initiative is an attempt to enforce the most basic of labeling standards onto the North American food manufacturers and packhouses. There are many solutions that can meet the requirements of the PTI and have existed for many years; and have been used by many European and Western countries for some time. Some examples are the ProducePak Farm/Packhouse/Food Manufacturing suites of solutions, or the QTrace free online traceability service.
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The benefits of using these tools for packers and food manufacturers vary wildly based on the solution chosen. When looking for a labeling solution you should consider if the solution:
• Supports multiple barcode standards ( PTI is not the only standard to consider, there are many other more advanced standards for traceability & labeling including BRC, GlobalGap and others)
• Provides the ability to tailor or create new labels
• Will the solution vendor create or tailor new labels for you? If so, what is the cost of this service
• Integrate with other packages? After all, you don’t want to have to enter data twice into different solutions to achieve recording and labeling solutions
• Integrate with online traceability services? For example, some labeling services can not only print labels, but also send your chosen traceability information to online servers that can share the information with consumers and or retailers.
Source:
www.pmac.ca
www.ProduceTraceability.org
www.QTrace.com
www.ProducePak.com
www.FarmSoft.com
